Drown | Essay & Project Ideas

Drown Ideas for Reports and Papers

1. Characterize the girlfriend in the story "Boyfriend." Why does Diaz never mention her name? How does he contrast her to Loretta?

2. Many of the stories involve an older and a younger brother. How are these relationships between brothers similar?

How are they different?

3. Discuss the cultural role of food in the stories. As depicted in the book, what role does food play in family life? In social life? In daily survival?

4. Drug sales and drug use are central to many of the stories. How does Diaz portray drug culture? How does drug culture affect the characters' lives? What are the characters' personal opinions about drugs?

5. Compare and contrast the various malefemale relationships in the stories. How do the young men's relationships with young women echo and oppose their fathers' relationships with adult women?